Tarkine case dismissed, Venture Minerals mine supporters elated

By
SEAN FORD

SAVE the Tarkine has been urged to stop running ``frivolous'' court cases after its action against a proposed mine was hit for six in the Federal Court.

SAVE the Tarkine has been urged to stop running ``frivolous'' court cases after its action against a proposed mine was hit for six in the Federal Court.

Justice Richard Tracey yesterday said the environmental group had failed to ``make good any of its grounds'' in its case challenging federal approval of Venture Minerals' planned Riley iron ore mine, near Tullah.The judge dismissed the group's application with costs, which Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council CEO Terry Long later said would be substantial.

The judge said his provisional view was the group - also known as the Tarkine National Coalition - should pay the costs of the Commonwealth and of Venture, but not of the third respondent (the state government).

``If Tarkine National (sic) wishes to resist the making of such orders or if the state of Tasmania wishes to pursue an order for costs, they should file and serve short written submissions within seven days after the publication of these reasons.''

A state government spokesman said the government would seek advice and consider its position on seeking costs.

TIME TO STOP

Braddon Liberal MHR Brett Whiteley said: ``It is time for radical extreme green groups like Save the Tarkine to stop running interference on new projects in Tasmania that take all reasonable steps to minimise environmental impact.

``Save the Tarkine's frivolous court interference has cost the company and the taxpayers many hundreds of thousands of dollars and delayed the project.

POSSIBLE APPEAL

Save the Tarkine said it was disappointed by the decision and its lawyers were reviewing it for grounds for possible appeal.

``This fight is not over,'' campaign co-ordinator Scott Jordan said.

``We will continue our campaign to defend the Tarkine from the destructive impact of new mines.''

It was the latest in a string of setbacks for the group, which has now failed to stop the Venture project and Shree Minerals' iron ore mine at Circular Head.

`FANATICS'

Asked if the group should just give it away, Mr Long said: ``They're fanatics, they won't.

``Even though they've lost the case and had costs awarded against them, which will be substantial, the point is they've achieved their objective, delaying Venture's project for many months and costing the company and its many contractors - small companies - a great deal of money.

``I think it's now incumbent upon the federal government to consider whether this sort of action is fair and reasonable or whether the act needs to be amended in order to preclude ideological appeals.''